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Pistis Sophia · 86 of 160 · tr. George Horner

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It happened therefore, the disciples having heard these words which said Jesus, they drew back and they were silent altogether. Came forward Maria the Magdalene, she prostrated at the feet of Jesus, she worshipped unto them, she cried out, she wept, said she, Have mercy on me, my Lord, or did my brothers hear and they were silent [201 ] at the words which thou sayest. Now therefore, my Lord concerning the knowing of all these words which thou saidst, becoming in the Mystery of the Ineffable; but I heard thee saying, From now I am about to begin speaking with you of all the knowledge of the Mystery of the Ineffable, This word therefore which thou sayst, didst not thou, then, 109 approach unto completing the word? Because of this therefore my brothers heard, they were silent, they ceased perceiving how thou art speaking with them concerning the words which thou sayest to them. Now therefore, my Lord, if the knowledge of all these (things) is becoming in that Mystery, then who is the man who (is) in the World who [202 ] is able to understand that Mystery with all his knowledges, and the type of all these words concerning which thou saidst them. It happened therefore, Jesus having heard these words which said Maria, he knew that having heard the disciples, they began to be silent, he encouraged them, said he to them, Grieve not therefore, my disciples, concerning the Mystery of the Ineffable, which ye think that ye will not understand. Amen I say to you, Yours is that Mystery, and that of every one who will hearken to you and renounce all the World with all the matter which (is) in it, and renounce all evil thoughts which become in them, and renounce all the cares of [202 ] this Aeon. Now therefore I say to you, Every one who will renounce all the World with all the (things) which (are) in it, and submit to the Godhead, that Mystery is easy for them more than all the Mysteries of the kingdom of the Light, and is fit to understand more than all of them, and is light ( levis ) more than all of them. He who will come in unto the knowledge of that Mystery is wont to renounce all this World with all the cares which (are) in it. Because of this therefore I said unto you once, Every one who is under care, and who toileth under his burden, come ye (close) to me that I may give rest to you, for light is my burden [203 ] and gentle is my yoke. Now therefore he who will receive that Mystery is wont to renounce all the World and with the care of all the matter which (is) in it. Because of this therefore my disciples grieve not at your thoughts that that Mystery ye will not understand. Amen I say to you, That Mystery is fit to understand more than all the Mysteries: and Amen I say to you that that Mystery is yours with every one who will renounce all the World with all the matter which (is) in it. Now therefore hear, my disciples, and my friends and my brothers that I may urge you unto the knowledge of the Mystery of the Ineffable. These (things) I speak with you [203 ], because I have come to say unto you the whole knowledge about the Distribution of the Universe, because the Distribution is (his) knowledge. But now therefore hear that I may speak with you in advance concerning the knowledge of that Mystery: because that Mystery indeed is that which knoweth because 110 of what despoiled themselves the five Helpers, and because of what they proceeded out of the Fatherless (ones).
Themes
Apophatic Theologytheology

Describing the divine only by negation—God transcends all positive categories and concepts; the via negativa.

The text repeatedly emphasizes the 'Ineffable' nature of the Mystery, describing it as beyond comprehension and words.

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Birth Of Word In Soulanthropology

Eckhart's signature doctrine that the Father eternally begets the Son in the ground of the soul; the human interior as the actual site of the divine generative act, distinct from inner_light's static indwelling.

The text states that the word is becoming in the Mystery of the Ineffable within the disciples.

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Body As Obstacleanthropology

The material body viewed as a prison, tomb, or source of error that hinders spiritual knowledge and return.

The passage instructs renouncing all the cares of this Aeon and the World to access the Mystery.

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Divine Hiddennesstheology

The supreme God's radical concealment beyond ordinary knowledge or perception; the Hidden Father.

The Mystery is described as 'Ineffable' and hidden from the disciples until they renounce the World.

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Divine Lighttheology

The uncreated luminous quality of the divine, sometimes experienced directly in mystical states; illumination as revelation.

The text explicitly states that the Mystery is light (levis) more than all other Mysteries and that Jesus' burden is light.

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Gnosis Direct Knowledgesoteriology

Salvation through direct experiential knowledge of the divine nature, not through faith, ritual, or moral works alone.

Salvation and understanding are conditioned on renouncing the World and submitting to the Godhead rather than faith or ritual.

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Hidden Sayingssoteriology

Esoteric teachings reserved for those ready to receive them; outer meaning conceals an inner liberating truth.

The text refers to 'words which said Jesus' that were hidden from the disciples until they renounced the World.

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Inner Lightanthropology

The divine spark or luminous quality residing within the human person, potentially recognisable through introspection.

The Mystery is described as being light (levis) more than all other Mysteries and residing within the disciples' knowledge.

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Kingdom Withinanthropology

The claim that the divine realm is present inside the individual, accessible without external mediation.

The text declares that the Mystery is 'yours' with every one who will renounce the World and submit to the Godhead.

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Living Godtheology

The divine conceived as active, present, and dynamic—not an abstract principle but a personal responsive reality.

Jesus is depicted as actively speaking words that become in the Mystery and encouraging the disciples.

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Mystical Unionsoteriology

The merging of the individual soul or self with the divine, transcending personal identity.

The text describes the disciples becoming partakers of the Mystery through direct knowledge and submission to Godhead.

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Paradox As Teachingethics

Using apparent contradiction, reversal, or riddle to destabilise ordinary understanding and induce insight.

The text presents the paradox that the Mystery is light more than all other Mysteries yet hidden from those who do not renounce the World.

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Prayerpraxis

Direct address to the divine, whether petitionary, contemplative, or liturgical; speech and silence offered upward.

Maria the Magdalene prostrates at the feet of Jesus and worships him.

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Renunciation Of Wealthethics

The spiritual danger of attachment to material possessions; wealth as a spiritual obstacle.

The passage explicitly commands renouncing all the World with all the matter which is in it as a prerequisite for understanding the Mystery.

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Return To Sourcesoteriology

The soul's journey back to its divine origin, reversing the fall into matter through stages of purification or illumination.

Renouncing the World implies a journey back to the divine origin of the Mystery.

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Self Knowledgesoteriology

The recognition of one's own true divine nature as the primary path to liberation; 'know thyself' as soteriology.

Understanding the Mystery requires knowing one's own state relative to the World and Godhead.

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Related passages · 2 parallels
jewish_mysticism|The Book of Enoch (1 Enoch, Charles translation)|Chapter LXXXI
LXXXI. The Heavenly Tablets and the Mission of Enoch . CHAPTER LXXXI. 1. And he said unto me: 'Observe, Enoch, these heavenly tablets, And read what is written thereon, And mark every individual fact.' p. 108 2 And I observed the heavenly t…”
Both passages deal with the revelation of divine knowledge and the response of individuals to this knowledge. They emphasize the importance of understanding mystical truths and the role of renunciation or righteousness in attaining this understanding.
sufism|The Masnavi, Book I (Rumi)|STORY XVa
Counsels of Reserve given by the Prophet to his Freedman Zaid. At dawn the Prophet said to Zaid, "How is it with thee this morning, O pure disciple?" He replied, "Thy faithful slave am I." Again he said, "If the garden of faith has bloomed…”
Both passages discuss the revelation of divine mysteries and the challenge of understanding them. They also touch on the theme of renunciation and the difficulty of conveying spiritual insights to others.